GNC has been hit with lawsuits for selling supplements with dangerous ingredients, including workout and weight-loss pills linked to heart attacks, liver failure, or death.
Need a Texas GNC Supplement Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any severe side effect of a GNC supplement, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
GNC Files For Bankruptcy
In June 2020, the vitamin and supplement retailer GNC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced the closure of around 1,200 stores. The 85-year-old company blamed its bankruptcy on the COVID-19 pandemic, $1 billion in debt, and declining sales in malls.
Lawsuit Claims GNC Sold Supplements With Illegal Drugs
The Oregon Attorney General filed a lawsuit against GNC for selling “natural supplements” that actually contained illegal drugs.
Health Risks of GNC Supplements for Men & Women
GNC supplements may contain dangerous ingredients. The greatest risk is for men and women between 18-40 years old who use workout supplements, testosterone boosters, and weight-loss supplements.
The health risks include serious cardiovascular, neurological, kidney damage, and liver injuries, such as:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Seizure
- Liver failure
- Kidney failure
- Blood clots
- Lung damage
- Death
GNC Workout Supplements
GNC workout supplements are notorious for containing illegal stimulants or other dangerous ingredients that are not on the label. Stimulants can raise blood pressure and heart-rate to dangerous levels, particularly during intense physical activity. This can lead to irregular heart rhythm, heart palpitations, atrial fibrillation, heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, or even sudden death.
DMAA Supplements Linked to Cardiac Arrest, Liver Failure & Death
One of the most high-profile GNC supplement scandals involved OxyElite Pro, a workout supplement with a stimulant called DMAA. It was banned by the U.S. military after 2 soldiers died of cardiac arrest.
When the manufacturer reformulated OxyElite Pro without DMAA, the new formula caused dozens of liver injuries, including one person who needed a liver transplant and another person who died of liver failure.
GNC Pays $2.25 Million Settlement After Selling Deadly Supplements
GNC was indicted by the Justice Department after they refused to stop selling DMAA supplements, like OxyElite Pro and Jack3d. GNC eventually agreed to pay a $2.25 million settlement to avoid federal prosecution for the sale of illegal dietary supplements.
GNC Weight-Loss Supplements
GNC weight-loss supplements may contain stimulants, toxic herbs (such as green tea extract) or other harmful ingredients. There are many examples over the years, including ephedra, Hydroxycut, and SlimQuick.
Another example is “bitter orange extract,” an amphetamine-like stimulant. In 2019, a lawsuit was filed against GNC by a man who said a supplement called Grenade® Thermo Detonator nearly killed him.
GNC also sells a variety of Green Tea Extract supplements for weight-loss. These “all-natural” products are linked to many reports of liver inflammation (hepatitis), jaundice, or liver failure needing a transplant.
GNC Testosterone Supplements
GNC sells a variety of testosterone-boosting supplements. All of these products claim to be “natural,” but some may actually contain Androgenic Anabolic Steroids (AAS). These ingredients can be extremely toxic to the liver, or cause other severe side effects in men.
Need a GNC Supplement Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.
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